Paterno family experts to review Freeh report on Sandusky abuse

Joe Paterno’s family said today they “vehemently disagree” with conclusions from the Freeh report and will have their own lawyers review its findings.

Louis Freeh, an ex-FBI director hired by Penn State, released a scathing report that said the football coach and three others school officials hid sexual abuse involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

The family’s statement said the 267-page Freeh report is “absolutely not” the last word, The Associated Press reported.

Freeh said Paterno, the school president and athletic director knew about Sandusky’s abuse in 2001, but didn’t report it to police.

Sandusky abused more boys following a 2001 incident in the Penn State football team's shower.

A jury convicted him last month on 45 charges involving the abuse of 10 boys.

Paterno died in January at age 85 from complications due to lung cancer. He's college football's winningest coach and a member of the hall of fame.

The family wants its “group of experts” to dig deeper than the Freeh report, ESPN said, saying there are inaccuracies.

“Mr. Freeh presented his opinions and interpretations as if they were absolute facts. We believe numerous issues in the report, and his commentary, bear further review,” Paterno family lawyer Wick Sollers said, according to ESPN.

More from GlobalPost: Emails appear to show Paterno, Penn State hid Sandusky abuse

Freeh, hired by Penn State, released his findings last Thursday in Philadelphia after a seven-month investigation.

Meanwhile, the school said it hasn’t decided if it will remove the Paterno statue from outside Beaver Stadium.

“Contrary to various reports, neither the board of trustees nor university administration has taken a vote or made a decision regarding the Joe Paterno statue at Beaver Stadium,” the short statement released Sunday said.

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